An extended June bank holiday weekend begins today (Thursday, June 2) and communities across the borough will be uniting to honour Queen Elizabeth II, the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee.

To mark 70 years since Her Majesty came to the throne there will be a number of major organised events locally as well as smaller celebrations.

Dozens of neighbours have planned street parties, meaning we are likely to see scenes reminiscent of previous jubilees from over the decades.

Shops, businesses, nurseries, schools and pubs are among the locations to have got into the patriotic mood by decking out premises in bunting.

Both St Helens town centre and the borough's communities are decked out in red, white and blue.

Events were due to get underway on Wednesday, with a jubilee-themed tea dance for senior citizens at St Helens Town Hall.

Other events involving the local authority include:

• A St Helens beacon lighting service in Taylor Park on Thursday, June 2 between 9.15pm and 10pm.
• The beacon at Billinge Hill will also be lit at 9.45pm, with people invited to gather at nearby Bankes Park, Billinge
• A service of Thanksgiving at St Helens Parish Church on Friday, June 3 at 3pm
• Family fun days will be at Earlestown market on Friday June 3 and Saturday June 4 from 11am to 2pm
• A Wonder Arts family jubilee event, featuring theatre and art installations, taking place in Church Square, St Helens town centre, on Saturday, June 4 between 11am and 3pm.

A host of community-led events will also take place - including in Rainhill (see full listings in image below) where highlights include a fancy dress day on Friday.

There will also be a number of organised street parties across the borough, see list here. 

In St Helens on Saturday, meanwhile, a jubilee garden party, held at Willowbrook's Living Well on Borough Road, will be staged by the Standing Tall Foundation READ>More details here.

Looking ahead to the celebrations, Councillor Sue Murphy, Mayor of St Helens, said: “On behalf of St Helens Borough Council, I’d like to congratulate Her Majesty The Queen on reaching 70 years as head of the Monarchy and Commonwealth.

“This is an incredible achievement – one that has never been done before by a British Monarch and is unlikely to be matched, which brings cause for celebration.

“Over the Platinum Jubilee bank holiday weekend, there’s so much going on across our borough and as mayor, I’m very much looking forward to getting out into our communities to attend events which have been planned to mark this historic moment which will be remembered for years to come.”

“God Save The Queen.”

If you have pictures of celebrations that you would like to share email news@sthelensstar.co.uk